Golden State Warriors: Complete 2018 offseason grades

Re-signing Kevon Looney

In what looked initially to be a blunder, declining Kevon Looney’s fourth-year option last fall was simply a cost-saving move in the end. Had the Warriors picked up that extra season, Looney would have made $2.2 million in 2018-19. Instead, he’s making $1.5 million, which saves the Warriors over $3 million when you factor in luxury tax payments.

Again, the Warriors win in the value department. Of all the team’s free agent centers this summer (Looney, Pachulia, McGee, David West), Looney seemed the least likely to return at at the minimum. He’s made less, getting better and one might imagine feels little loyalty to the team that bet against him entering 2017-18.

In the end, the same dry center market that reduced Cousins to an MLE-candidate reduced Looney — who could have made eight figures in the summer of 2016 — to a minimum guy. Maybe a slightly bigger offer would have come along had he waited, but Golden State offered enough advantages to offset that.

Steve Kerr trusts him. Cousins’ health will open up early season minutes. Playing with superstars gets him a bunch of free points and helps his efficiency.

The Warriors could not be happier about his assessment. For the minimum, they get a young, improving, motivated big who knows their system and is playable against the Houstons, Bostons and Torontos of the world.

Grade: A